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David Irving death crash trial: witness tells how he drove over 'bump' in the road

A DRIVER told a death crash trial how he went over a ‘bump’ on a major dual carriageway – not knowing it was a body.

Witness Robert Fairbairn was on his daily commute to work in Southampton when he saw a flash in front of him and felt his Mercedes coupe go over a bump.

Unbeknown to him, he had just driven over the body of cyclist and IT consultant David Irving, who died from severe injuries after being allegedly knocked off his bike by a minibus as he cycled to work on Mountbatten Way.

Giving evidence at Southampton Crown Court Robert Fairbairn recalled how he was driving at about 20-25mph in his Mercedes coupe on his way to work. He told the court how he suddenly saw a flash, adding: “I thought it was a Tesco carrier bag, the flash came straight at me. I thought it came from left to right but it was all in an instant.

“There was a flash and then a bump. I had gone over something in the road but I didn't know what it was. I stopped my car, got out, grabbed my mobile phone and walked back. Then I realised there was somebody lying in the road and dialled 999.”

Mr Irving, from Wimborne, Dorset, died as he made his way into the city during rush hour on December 17 2012.